It's coming to that time of year when spiders will be creeping back into homes and appearing in your kitchen, bedroom or living room.

For those of us with the common phobia of spiders, this can be a nightmare.

With that in mind, we've come up with these top tips to keep the creepy crawlies out.

1) Clean up

One of the best ways to keep spiders at bay is to make sure your home is clean and tidy.

Dust and vacuum any spider webs or egg sacs (which will be ball shaped, and often hidden in the web) waiting to hatch. Spiders will be less eager to return when their offspring and habitats have been removed. If you do this as soon as you spot them, it will make cleaning a whole lot easier.

Additionally, make sure you don’t miss those neglected nooks or crannies, because dark, undisturbed spaces are inviting to spiders. A tidy home is also important when trying to keep spiders away. Store things in airtight containers rather than cardboard boxes, so spiders can’t get into them.

2) Cover up gaps

Minimise the amount of cracks or gaps in your floorboards, windows and doors. These spaces are where most spiders will gain access to your house. If you seal them, however, it will make life much more difficult for them. Try using a fine mesh over any large holes or air vents to stop particularly big spiders from entering.

3) Try peppermint oil

Apparently spiders hate the smell of peppermint, so this can be an effective deterrent.

Dilute some in water and spray it around your home. There are also ready-made versions you can buy.

A common house spider (Tegenaria gigantea) trapped in the bath.

4) Get your pets to play with them

Dogs or cats will chase and catch almost anything, making spiders that run across the floor perfect targets. Cats, in particular, will be good at the job because of their natural hunting instincts. They will also frighten the spiders.

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5) Turn the lights off

Never leave the light on with the windows open as the light will attract moths and other insects. And these insects make up the staple diet of big house spiders. With a vast food source available in your home, spiders will just be encouraged to move in.

6) Save citrus peels - and use them

Especially lemon or a lime, because they can help keep unwanted spiders away. Like peppermint, spiders hate the natural aroma of citrus peels.

Place them on your window sills, on top of bookcases or in any other small spaces that may be appealing to the creepy crawlies. Replace these every three or four days so the peels don’t dry out and lose their natural fragrance.

Being scared of spiders is a common phobia (Image: Getty)

7) Catch them humanely

If all else fails, and they still invade your home, treat yourself to a spider catcher, which will enable you to suck the spider safely up into a tube at arm’s length and release it outside.

8) Get some cedar wood furniture

This is a good idea for any serious arachnophobes, because spiders hate the smell of cedar wood. You can also put cedar-wood blocks in your garden and around possible ‘spider entrances’.

9) Encourage ladybirds

Ladybirds can eat almost 50 bugs a day - so get planting some plants that will attract them.